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More than 20,000 residents told to leave the city after 440-pound bomb discovered near Rhine River

Some 20,000 residents in the western German city of Cologne are being forced to evacuate their homes after authorities discovered a 440-pound bomb from World War II.

Schools and kindergartens remained closed and dozens of ambulances were on the scene to evacuate residents of a nursing home.

The deactivation of the bomb, which was found near Muelheim bridge crossing the Rhine River, was planned for Wednesday afternoon. City officials said in a statement that during this time the river would be closed for shipping and the air space would be closed too.

Even 70 years after the end of World War II, unexploded bombs are still found relatively frequently in Germany, generally during construction in major cities.